Pop Charts From The 1950s
Top Ten Hits of 1953
 Guy Mitchell |
 Jo Stafford |
 Eddie Fisher |
| 1 | Frankie Laine | I Believe |
| 2 | Frankie Laine | Answer Me |
| 3 | Guy Mitchell | Look At That Girl |
| 4 | Perry Como | Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes |
| 5 | Guy Mitchell | She Wears Red Feathers |
| 6 | Frankie Laine | Hey Joe |
| 7 | Mantovani & His Orchestra | Song From The Moulin Rouge |
| 8 | Eddie Fisher | I’m Walking Behind You |
| 9 | Jo Stafford | You Belong to Me |
| 10 | Al Martino | Here In My Heart |
Top Ten Hits of 1954
 Doris Day |
 Johnie Ray |
 Winifred Atwell |
| 1 | Doris Day | Secret Love |
| 2 | David Whitfield | Cara Mia |
| 3 | Eddie Calvert | Oh Mein Papa |
| 4 | The Stargazers | I See The Moon |
| 5 | Winifred Atwell | Let’s Have Another Party |
| 6 | Don Cornell | Hold My Hand |
| 7 | Frank Sinatra | Three Coins In The Fountain |
| 8 | Obernkirchen Child Choir | Happy Wanderer |
| 9 | Johnnie Ray | Such A Night |
| 10 | Rosemary Clooney | This Ole House |
Top Ten Hits of 1955
 Tony Bennett |
 Ruby Murray |
 Jimmy Young |
| 1 | Tennessee Ernie Ford | Give Me Your Word |
| 2 | Slim Whitman | Rose Marie |
| 3 | Jimmy Young | The Man From Laramie |
| 4 | Eddie Calvert | Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White |
| 5 | Bill Haley & His Comets | Rock Around The Clock |
| 6 | Ruby Murray | Softly Softly |
| 7 | Rosemary Clooney | Mambo Italiana |
| 8 | Tony Bennett | Stranger In Paradise |
| 9 | Dickie Valentine | Christmas Alphabet |
| 10 | Dickie Valentine | Finger Of Suspicion |
Top Ten Hits of 1956
 Frankie Laine |
 Kay Starr |
 Pat Boone |
| 1 | Pat Boone | I’ll Be Home |
| 2 | The Dreamweavers | It’s Almost Tomorrow |
| 3 | Doris Day | Whatever Will Be Will Be |
| 4 | Winifred Atwell | Poor People Of Paris |
| 5 | Frankie Lymon | Why Do Fools Fall In Love |
| 6 | Kay Starr | Rock And Roll Waltz |
| 7 | Johnny Ray | Just Walking In The Rain |
| 8 | Lou Busch | Zambesi |
| 9 | Elvis Presley | Hound Dog |
| 10 | Frankie Laine | A Woman In Love |
Top Ten Hits of 1957
 Paul Anka |
 Nat King Cole |
 Elvis Presley |
| 1 | Pat Boone | Love Letters In The Sand |
| 2 | Paul Anka | Diana |
| 3 | Elvis Presley | All Shook Up |
| 4 | Tab Hunter | Young Love |
| 5 | Harry Belafonte | Island In The Sun |
| 6 | Elvis Presley | Teddy Bear |
| 7 | Johnny Ray | Yes Tonight Josephine |
| 8 | Pat Boone | Don’t Forbid Me |
| 9 | Nat ‘King’ Cole | When I Fall In Love |
| 10 | Harry Belafonte | Mary’s Boy Child |
Top Ten Hits of 1958
 Max Bygraves |
 Connie Frances |
 Conway Twitty |
| 1 | The Everly Brothers | All I Have To Do Is Dream |
| 2 | Connie Francis | Who’s Sorry Now |
| 3 | Perry Como | Magic Moments |
| 4 | Connie Francis | Stupid Cupid |
| 5 | Lord Rockingham’s XI | Hoots Mon |
| 6 | Max Bygraves | Tulips From Amsterdam |
| 7 | The Kalin Twins | When |
| 8 | Pat Boone | It’s Too Soon To Know |
| 9 | Conway Twitty | It’s Only Make Believe |
| 10 | The Everly Brothers | Bird Dog |
Top Ten Hits of 1959
 Adam Faith |
 Buddy Holly |
 Lonnie Donegan |
| 1 | Cliff Richard | Livin’ Doll |
| 2 | Emile Ford | What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For? |
| 3 | Buddy Holly | It Doesn’t Matter Any More |
| 4 | Cliff Richard | Travellin’ Light |
| 5 | The Platters | Smoke Gets In Your Eyes |
| 6 | Russ Conway | Side Saddle |
| 7 | Bobby Darin | Dream Lover |
| 8 | Adam Faith | What Do You Want |
| 9 | Elvis Presley | A Fool Such As I |
| 10 | Lonnie Donegan | Battle Of New Orleans |
How well I remember all of the these hit’s from the 50’s. In 1955 Bill Haley’s ‘Rock Around The Clock’ was the theme to the film of the same name and I remember cinema seats were ripped up by youngsters who were letting off steam. Rock & Roll was born and declared to be the cause of unrest amongst the younger generation. Now we have RAVES. I can also remember miming to Paul Anka’s ‘Diana’ in 1957 and probably made a big fool of myself. But oh what memories of all those singers and the songs.
I’m surprised that more have not joined in to this thread. Bill Haley and the Comets were the first real Rock Band, a fact which seems to be lost these days. I remember that many schools were almost cleaned out, when they docked at Southampton. These were sounds our generation had never heard before.
Some memorable names not listed were Del Shannon’s Runaway, Neil Sedaka’s Oh Carole, and Cathy’s Clown by the Everly Brothers. I would sing that one all the way to Silvertown, on my bike, where I was an apprentice Fitter. The list is endless. The Tremeloes started in 1958 over in Dagenham. Did any of them attend Mayfield? Their Silence is Golden song is really clever, with its different harmonies. I understand they are still able to perform.
These days thanks to Youtube, I can sit back, drift back to that wonderful era and listen till my hearts content, to all those wonderful Moldy Oldies.
This is my first visit to these charts. Truly wonderful and very useful. I have been organising a Senior Citizens Christmas Party in Witham as member of the local Rotary Club for the past three years and in doing so decided to change the music of previous parties to reflect the music of our guests. Mindful that the invitation is to those over 65, I needed to recall music from their teens. These charts are really useful. Thank you so much. Brings back memories, some good some bad, of Goodmayes and Ilford coffee bars, youth clubs, Ilford Palais on a Saturday afternoon, scooters and motor bikes. I was to add to the music scene in my later teens playing drums in various local rock and roll groups, R & B bands and eventually a local dance orchestra. Great music great times.